Bill Cosby has been charged with sexual assault more than a decade after a former Temple University employee told police the comedian drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.

It's the first criminal charge against Cosby over his conduct with women, which has received new scrutiny in the past year.

The Montgomery County prosecutor announced Wednesday that Cosby had been charged with aggravated indecent assault, a felony. It's a reversal of a decision by a previous district attorney, who declined to charge Cosby in 2005.

Cosby's lawyer declined to comment on the case before the announcement. The 78-year-old comedian previously said under oath that he had consensual sexual contact with the woman.

Prosecutors reopened the case as new evidence was unsealed in the woman's related civil case and dozens of women came forward with similar accusations.